bias in journalism

I just came across a great piece of journalism that I had to share.

In this article about how Ralph Nader dropped the N-bomb at a fund raiser, he was speaking of how Democratic Party powerbrokers had kept him off the ballot in such Southern states as Georgia and Virginia - which reminded him of the oppressive Jim Crow laws that denied African-Americans equal rights.

The following was written:

"I felt like a [n-word]," remarked the 70-year-old white multimillionaire graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School."

Now this is great "non-partisan" writing. Clearly, the writer is reporting the facts. Yes, Nader, made the comment, yes, he's a millionaire, and yes he went to not one, but two Ivy league schools. But by following his comment with pointing out his non-nigger traits it sets a tone for the reader that makes Nader look ridiculous as his background shouldn't provide him with the opportunity to understand niggadom.

Don't you wonder if people have the ability to recognize this, or just read the article and walked away thinking Nader is a fool and don't stop to wonder why they felt that way after reading the article???

I have to be careful about what I read and make sure I take the time to recognize the point of view the writer subtly places upon the reader...

~C